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Pulp Fiction: Aspiring Young Professional Goes To Coffee Shop For Next Big Idea, Drinks Coffee

This article was originally published in The Daily Pulp on October 8, 2013.

“It took me 30 minutes to pick out what I was going to wear here,” admitted 24-year-old Gabe Kirkland as he blew down on his steaming, off-white coffee mug.

At noon on a Sunday, Kirkland has been at his neighborhood coffee shop—just a bicycle ride away from his single apartment—for two hours.

“I love it here,” he giggled lightly. “Fifty-cent refills.”

Kirkland, a college graduate working an 8 a.m.-6 p.m. telemarketing sales job, says he has big plans for the future.

“We’re living in a time of opportunity. I really believe that.”

Kirkland checks his vibrating phone for a text message. Then his Facebook page. And his Twitter. Then he changes the color scheme of his Google calendar, decides he doesn’t like it, and changes it back.

After posting a photo of his coffee mug on Instagram, Kirkland continued with hopeful enthusiasm.

“I’m an idea guy. I’ve read those Malcolm Gladwell books. This is the place where I get my 10,000 hours in.”
When asked what was on the horizon for his future, the big idea just around the corner, Gabe responded with a long umm, before diving into his vision: “They will ELIMINATE ALL of the debilitating WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, so you can Cocaine Detox Kit in complete comfort and in the privacy of your own home.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about developing an app. My friend Doug has started teaching himself all about that stuff. He’s a genius, seriously. Might also get into manufacturing a niche product—you know, something I can make from home—and do the e-commerce thing. I’d really like work with a non-profit at some point too. Maybe an app for non-profits?”

As Kirkland’s eyes wandered around, looking at who might be looking at him, his cell phone began to buzz again. It was Doug, his tech genius, asking if Gabe would like to meet him at a coffee shop a few blocks away, downtown.

“Sure,” the aspiring Kirkland said, bringing the coffee mug to his mouth for a quick fix. “Just have to finish this cup of coffee first.”